Yarn winding



Oct. 18, 1960 H. HALKYARD 2,956,756

YARN WINDING Filed Nov. 16, 1955 United States Patent iice 2,956,756 Patented Oct. 18, 1960 YARN WINDING Harold Halkyard, Spondon, near Derby, England, assignor to British Celanese Limited, a corporation of Great Britain Filed Nov. 16, 1955, Ser. No. 547,219

Claims priority, application Great Britain Nov. 18, 1954 4 Claims. (Cl. 242-45) This invention relates to yarn winding, and particularly to the yarn tensioning arrangements in machines for the winding of cones and like packages of yarn, in which a tension device is arranged to exert a diminishing tensioning effect on the yarn being wound as the size of the cone or like package increases.

In yarn winding machines of the type referred to, the common form of tension device, adapted to act on the yarn as it is moving vertically upwards towards the package being wound, comprises two intermeshing sets of horizontal bars or fingers, one of which is pivoted about a vertical axis relatively to the other so that the two sets intermesh to a varying degree. The yarn passes upwards between the two sets, following a zig-zag path in and out of the intermeshed iingers and the tension imparted to the yarn depends upon the degree to which the fingers intermesh and consequently to which the yarn is repeatedly deflected in the course of its zig-zag path. The movable set of fingers is loaded by springs or Weights, against which acts the tension of the yarn, in so far as it is deiiected `from a straight path through the device. The device is thus self-adjusting and constantly in motion, a diminution of tension in the yarn permitting the loading force of the springs or weights to force the movable fingers towards the stationary fingers and counteracting the reduction in tension, while an increase in tension forces the ngers apart against the loading force. Though the maximum degree of intermeshing of the fingers is limited, by stops or by the configuration of the device, the fingers do not normally occupy their position of maximum engagement unless the yarn is slack or absent. One or both sets of fingers may be twisted so that the iingers are slightly skewed and so that the upper lingers intermesh more deeply than the lower ngers of the two sets. Adjustment of the tension to compensate for the increase in'size of the package during Winding is effected by reducing the loading force applied to the movable set of iingers in any position thereof. This can be eiiected by suitable linkages from the motion of a traverse plate which carries the means for traversing the yarn on the package and which is adapted to swing outwards as the package grows.

According to the present invention, in the winding of yarn into cones and like packages, the yarn is tensioned on its way to the package by `constraining it to follow a zig-zag path in which the angular deection of the yarn is limited by a maximum, and this maximum is diminished as the size of the package increases so as to diminish the tensioning effect on the yarn. The yarn can normally follow the zig-zag path giving the maximum deflection, but abnormally high tension can cause the total angular deflection of the path of the yarn to decrease lbelow the maximum. It is convenient to provide a delay between the start of winding and the instant when the maximum total angular deflection of the yarn starts to decrease.

A yam winding apparatus according to the present invention, suitable for carrying out the method described above, ycomprises a yarn tensioning device arranged to exert a diminishing tensioning eiect on the yarn being wound as the size of said package increases, said tensioning device comprising `two sets of bars intermeshing one with the other to constrain said yarn to follow a zig-zag path, means for limiting the maximum degree of intermeshing of said sets and means for positively diminishing said maximum degree as said package grows in the course of winding. At any stage in the winding of the package, the bars thus normally occupy a iixed position (though they may be free to open under abnormal variations in tension so as to compensate for those variations) and the position thus normally occupied changes in the course of winding so that a diminishing tensioning effect is exerted on the yarn. The tensioning eifect is thus progressively reduced during winding, independently of the actual tension in the yarn, and independently of any tendency of the tension device to vary the tension applied through jamming or fouling of its bearings.

By way of example, one form of tension device in accordance with the present invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawing in which Figure l is a side view of a Winding machine comprising the device while Figure 2 is an end View of a detail of the machine.

The winding machine comprises a horizontal winding spindle 1 near the top of the machine, adapted to be driven at a constant rate and supplied with yarn from a supply package (not shown) mounted low down the machine and forward of the spindle, from which the yarn proceeds by way of a fixed balloon guide 3, the tension device 4 of the present invention, a stop motion guide 5 positioned immediately above the tension device and a traverse guide 6. The traverse guide is mounted, for motion to-and-fro parallel to the surface of the package 7, on a traverse plate 8 carried by an arm 9 which is pivoted below the winding spindle and is provided, below its pivot 10, with a counter-weight 11 acting to urge the traverse guide 6 towards the surface of the package 7. A pivoted dog 12 carried by the arm engages a quadrant 13 on the frame of the machine, and checks retrogressive movement of the arm. The quadrant 13 also serves as an element in a stop-motion for stopping the machine, being pivoted at its rear end 14 and adapted to be swung slightly upwards for this purpose. Attached to the arm 9 and parallel thereto for a purpose hereinafter to be described, is a iiat plate 15 bridging the pivot point of the arm 9 and having a slot 16 along the length thereof extending chiey below the pivot point.

The tension device 4 is situated above the balloon guide 3 of the supply package and comprises two vertical rectangular frames 17, 18 facing one another and pivoted on a plate 19 near their upper ends about horizontal axes 2i) parallel to the winding spindle. Extending across each frame 17, 1S, `and displaced from the plane thereof towards the other frame, are a series of horizontal wire tensioning elements 21, the elements carried by one frame being staggered so as to alternate with reference to those carried by the other. In the vertical position of the two frames 17, 18, the tension elements overlap, being further from the frame by which they are carried than from the other frame. By swinging the frames 17, 18 apart the yarn 22 can be passed straight up between them, so that when the frames 17, 18 are released and return to their vertical position, the yarn is forced into a zig-zag path in and out of the tension elements 21.

To the top of each frame, is attached a lightweight chain, of the type known as jewellers chain. It is secured by means of a nut and bolt 23 at the end of an extension 24 projecting from the rear of the frame. The chain 25 on the frame 17, nearest to the pivot of the arm 9 carrying the traverse guide 6, passes round the small pulley 26 mounted on plate 19; the chain 27 on the frame 18 passes round the guide pulley 28. The chains extend Ifrom the guide pulleys 26, 28 to a point on the plate 15 attached to the arm 9 carrying the trayerse guide 6. In the slot 16 of the plate 15 are two blocks (see Figure 2); the upper block 29 carries a pin 30 extending parallel to the pivot 10 of the arm 9 and is adapted to slide Within slot 16 and be locked by the nut 30A. The lower block 31 is provided with a small rotatable drum 32 to which are attached the ends of the chains 25, 27; the block 31 and the drum 32 are locked by the nut 32A. The chains pass over the pin 30 carried by the upper block 29 and down to the lower block 31. The chains thus connect the tension device 4 to the arm 9 carrying the traverse guide 6 so that, as the package 7 grows and the arm 9 swings, the chains are pulled and the tension device 4 is drawn to a more open position. Adjustment of the position of the upper block 29 carrying the pin 30 in the slot 16 enables the rate of opening of the tension device 4 in relation to the rate of movement of the arm 9 to be varied. A scale 33 is provided to facilitate fine adjustments, the zero of the scale corresponding to the axis of rotation of arm 9. Excess of length of the chains 25, 27 can be wound on the small drum 32 and the etective working length of the chains can be adjusted by rotating the drum.

A stop member 35 shaped with a triangular tip 36 and a slot 37 is slidably mounted on the plate 19 and held in position between the ends of the two frames 17 and i8 by a screw 38. It can be adjusted to set the initial degree of closing of the two sets of bars. The working lengths of the chains is then adjusted to determine the time lag between the start of winding and the instant when lthe elements 21 begin to open out. A graduated scale 39 is marked on the stop member 35 for tine adjustment.

Immediately above the tension device 4 is disposed the light wire guide arranged to lie parallel to the tension elements 21 of the tension device 4 and bent to form depending legs, the lower ends 42 of which are bent outwards to provide a pivot for the guide. An extension of one of the bent ends of the guides 5 carries a brass disc 44 into which is inserted a brass pin 45. A breaker member 46 pivotally mounted on the end of quadrant 13 is used for stopping the machine. It comprises a stiff brass rod 47, extending under the pivot of the guide 5, and a stopping lever 4S. At its lower end the rod 47 carries a protruding steel pin 49. A permanent magnet enclosed in a box 50 is rigidly attached to the supporting plate 19 of the tension unit. A wheel 51 formed with notches on its circumferences is mounted on the axis of arm 9 and rotates anti-clockwise during winding. Just above the pivot points 42 are provided stops 52 which engage the legs of the guide 5 and ensure that it is slightly tilted forward, away from the winding spindle 1. The guide 5 is, however, held in its nearly vertical position by the light tension in the running yarn 22 proceeding from the tension device 4 to the traverse guide 6. If the yarn 22 breaks or slackens, the guide 5 falls forward causing the brass disc 44 to rotate and the pin 45 to engage the rod 47. The breaker member 46 swings about its pivot so that the steel pin 49 comes wthin the field of the magnet. The pin is then vigorously attracted by the magnet causing the stopping lever 48 to be engaged by a notch in wheel 51. The rotation of Wheel 51 thus causes quadrant 13 to pivot about its rear-end and actuate the machine stop-motion (not shown). In order to re-thread, the wire guide 5 is raised to its original position. When re-starting the breaker bar 46 is swung back to its original position so that the steel pin 49 is out of the field of the magnet and the wheel 51 clears the stopping lever 48.

Having described my invention what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A winding machine adapted for the winding of cones and like packages of yarn and comprising a yarntensioning device arranged to exert a diminishing tensioning effect on the yarn being wound as the size of said package increases, said tensioning device comprising two sets of bars intermeshing one with the other to constrain said yarn to follow a zig-zag path, means for limiting the maximum degree of intermeshing of said sets, means actuated by the growth of said package for positively diminishing said maximum degree as said package continues to grow in the course of winding said means actuated by the growth of the package comprising a lost-motion connection affording a delay before said means become effective after the beginning of growth of said package, said lost motion connection comprising a flexible inextensible linear member connecting at least one set of bars to a part of the machine which moves in accordance with the rate of growth of the package.

2. A winding machine according to claim 1 comprising means for adjusting the effective length of the linear member so as to adjust the delay afforded by the lost motion.

3. A winding machine according to claim 1 comprising means for adjusting the position of connection of the linear member to the movable part of the machine so as to adjust the rate of diminution of the maximum degree of intermeshing of the bars.

4. A winding machine according to claim 1 in which the limiting means comprises adjustable stop means positioned in the way of at least one set of bars to limit, independently of the exible member, the initial degree of intermeshing of the bars.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,022,512 Sipp Apr. 9, 1912 1,955,666 Anderson Apr. i7, 1934 2,432,696 Swanson Dec. 16, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS 461,614 France Nov. 3, 1913 

